To celebrate our birthday we’re highlighting some of our favorite and most popular stories over the past year all week long—the good, the bad, and the…scary.

"What Is Laurel" was a brief series that began running on the site way back in April after readers requested we stop referring to parts of Laurel outside the City of Laurel as...Laurel. As a way to engage readers, we decided to ask residents, politicians, and business owners what exactly was Laurel? While Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker and Councilwoman Mary A. Lehman all gave their input on what is Laurel, it was former Laurel councilwoman Gayle Snyder who set the tone.

**The following story originally ran in on April 12**

Four counties, five communities and one mayor make Laurel one of the most intriguing jurisdictions in the state. A debate has been stirring on Patch about how best to define an area with such diverse people, governments, neighborhoods and interests. 

Do you live in North Laurel? Maybe South or West Laurel? How about near Maryland City or Russett?  

Over the next few weeks Laurel Patch is going to go straight to the experts-- readers like YOU-- to get some insight on exactly how to define Laurel, this unusual place where we work and live. What is Laurel, MD? Stick around and find out. It should be interesting.

Councilwoman Gayle Snyder calls Laurel a city with a hometown feel. Hear her reminisce in the video.